Advent Reflection – December 18, 2012

This is one of my favorite passages from Isaiah with so much imagery and such a wonderful prediction of things to be fulfilled in Jesus! Two of the main themes that I see in these verses are justice and peace. In today’s world, I feel that we are so inundated with stories of injustices and fighting locally and abroad that it overwhelms me at times and it is hard to keep focused on the good.

In my full time job, I am a medical social worker so I hear many stories of unemployment, hard times, and just everyday struggle with a rough economy. It is discouraging for me to hear so many painful stories and sometimes too easy for me to lose sight of the good that remains around me daily. Verses 3 and 4 of this passage are especially meaningful for me as they state ‘He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes…but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth…’ One of the main values in social work is looking at the individual as a whole and realizing that everyone brings past experiences, choices, and their own values with them to make them who they are. As much as I want to fix problems and make a difference, a lot of that is out of my hands and I struggle to deal with that at times. I need to remind myself that God is the ultimate judge and hope that justice works out in the end.

Gracious Lord, please help me in my daily struggle to help others by making me to realize that You are the ultimate healer and judge.